Andres Castro Arms
The Andres Castro Arms, often referred to as simply Castro, is a student housing cooperative in Berkeley, California. It is part of the USCA coop system.
Located about two blocks south-east of the University of California Berkeley, the house was originally designed as a mansion by architect Julia Morgan. From it's vantage point on a hill between Prospect and Warring streets, Castro overlooks most of Berkeley, Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its most distinguishing external feature is the three story red brick staircase leading up to the Warring entrance.
The house was converted into a sorority in the fifties and the USCA bought it in the early seventies. The USCA named it after Andres Castro, a favorite cook in their Central Kitchen.
Castro is characteristic of many of the USCA's older buildings in that beyond its doors, visitors encounter a hodge-podge of decor. A magisterial fireplace lined with cracks sits next to an eleven foot mural of a bright red samurai. A spacious and elegantly shaped dining room features the centerpieces of a foosball table and a life-size illustration from Where The Wild Things Are. The remaining diagonal corner of the once octagonal room is dedicated to recycling and compost bins, and the halls resound with the voices of 58 students, who also come in a variety of styles, but share a consistent ability to beat other USCA houses at broomball.
Castro is also known for its biannual disco party.
The house mascot is a seven foot ball bear named Pablo who was recently recovered from the clutches of Cloyne Court Hotel.